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Written by Engel & Völkers on 20.7.2016

A home in the Swiss Alps. Immediately, this conjures up images of a certain kind of traditional idyll. Villa Vals, snugly tucked away in the mountainside on the edge of the Alpine village of Vals, is a radical departure from this cliché. So as not to obstruct the views from the famous thermal baths in Vals, the architects from Amsterdam and Rotterdam have created a subterranean residence. One so filled with natural light it has to be seen to be believed. Take a look …

The Ultimate Alpine Hideaway: Villa Vals

To preserve the unspoiled beauty of the idyllic scenery, Villa Vals in the Swiss Alpine village of Vals is a subterranean dwelling. Fully immersed in the mountainside, its organically formed exterior is matched by a quirky interior that breaks radically with local architectural traditions.

Up on the mountain there is absolutely no sign of Villa Vals. An Alpine barn stands in the meadow, a typical sight around here, but other than that? The actual house itself lies hidden away in the hillside. Bjarne Mastenbroek from the Amsterdam practice SeARCH and Christian Müller from Christian Müller Architects in Rotterdam have designed a holiday home here in the Swiss village of Vals that is quite special indeed.

Architects are usually keen to make sure that their creations are clearly visible from far and wide. Not so in the case of Mastenbroek and Müller. Intent on making sure the views of the Alpine scenery were left unspoiled, they simply moved the plans for their concrete construction under the ground. “There was no way around this in any case,” said Bjarne Mastenbroek, “As we’re just next-door to Peter Zumthor’s famous thermal baths. If we’d have built above ground, the view of the village would have gone.” The requirements in place for avalanche protection were another factor. The rear wall of buildings must be built to a certain strength and they are not permitted to have windows. “So we chose to build this home straight into the mountain to begin with.”

The architect duo had a recess detonated into the side of the mountain, then elegantly incorporated a double-storey dwelling into the topography of the land – all the while making the most of the splendid and far-reaching views. For structural reasons, the building is enclosed completely on the inside by an exposed concrete shell. This ensures that this new addition to the landscape is safeguarded like a cocoon from any movement of the mountain. The space between the concrete shell and the mountain has been filled with foam concrete for added heat insulation. The sweeping concave front façade of the villa is clad with quarry stones from the local region, in a bid to blend in yet more convincingly with the natural surroundings. Windows of varying sizes are juxtaposed across the south-facing frontage – and at varying heights too, reflecting the ‘half-storeys’ inside the house. Directly in front of the house is an elliptical courtyard terrace, which is sheltered by rising walls on each side. These walls are in fact also the side walls of the villa itself, whilst the overall design has a circular form from a bird’s eye perspective.

But back to the traditional Alpine barn, which stands a little distance away from the villa itself. It is absolutely typical for this region. The upper floor, accessible from the mountainside, is a haystack, while the lower floor, accessible from the valley side, usually serves as a shelter for livestock. The architects of Villa Vals have converted their barn into a kind of reception building. You can park a car at the top and store away your ski equipment in the lower part of the structure. From here, a 22-metre underground passage leads residents and visitors to the house. “We’ve added an element of drama here too,” said Bjarne Mastenbroek. “Instead of being a straight tunnel it is slightly offset like a bayonet, so there are a few turns to take. Two skylights let natural light flood in. Once you reach the end of the tunnel, an approx. six-metre flight of stairs leads to two doors: one into the house and the other straight out to the courtyard.”

The real ‘wow moment’ though comes once inside the surprisingly bright interiors of this in-land dwelling. The living room and kitchen alone share some 50 square metres of window openings facing south. The views play the starring role throughout this home. In fact, each of the four en suite bedrooms look out to the terrace and the mountain scenery beyond.

Despite its bunker-like position, this building exudes a distinct sense of light and expansiveness throughout thanks to its large window openings on the various half-storeys. “This place is at its most wonderful when there’s at least half a metre of snow,” the architect enthuses. “Everything is transformed into this almost surreal white wonderland, and the villa takes on an unbelievably cosy feel.” In-situ concrete is the dominant aesthetic force here. The grain and cast marks of the cladding still remain visible on its surface. The other structural elements in natural-coloured woods form a warm contrast. They include the window frames, wall cladding and doors.

One of the greatest challenges, according to Mastenbroek, was the lighting. Only by spending time living in a house is it possible to find out for sure whether the original lighting concept actually works. He had to rethink some elements here, and rehang or reposition several lights, but now he is satisfied with the result. Luminaires also feature here by perhaps the most famous Dutch designer of them all: Hella Jongerius. Different variants of the ‘Blossom’ lamp, which she designed for the Swiss label Belux, hang above the wooden kitchen table, which is several metres long. Dutch design is a very strong influence throughout the interior, in fact. Original objects by the likes of Marcel Wanders, Demakersvan and Scholten & Baijings bring a playful, softer touch to the otherwise meticulous character of the house. They are found both in the open plan space on the ground floor with its living room and kitchen, and in the upper rooms, which are reached via a staircase from the living area.

Modern design from the Netherlands can even be found outside in the courtyard, in the form of the ‘Dutchtub’ by Floris Schoonderbeek. Sky-blue in colour, this oversized polyester tub has a heating coil and fire basket for heating the water to bath temperature in the winter. Absolutely perfect for jumping in on a chilly day and soaking up the magical atmosphere of Vals. “Architecture and interior design aside, the most marvellous thing about this residence is the absolute peace and quiet that reigns here,” says Bjarne Mastenbroek. “As an architect I see and work on a great number of different houses. But I don’t know of any other building that is remotely as serene as Villa Vals. That is, of course, due to its location on the edge of the village, but also owed to the style of the construction. The property is almost entirely enveloped by the mountain slope, and is fitted with triple glazing. You are also at one with the world here. The house with the terrace and, of course, access through the old barn, offer maximum privacy. For anyone seeking an undisturbed idyll – be it for skiing in winter or hiking, biking or just relaxing in summer – this house is ideal.”